Fuse.



A. F. DAuivi.

FUSE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10. 1913.

anon/n barf Patented Apr. 17, 1917.

l ui/ba'z oow i I ien!!! EFL Baum, or rnrssunen, weaned-Q I was.

To dl l ibhom may cchcerh Be it known tha't'I --ALBERT DAUM, a

citizen of the Unite ,States, residing. at Pittsbur h, in the county of Allegheny and State .o I tain [new anduseful Improvements in Fuses,

of which the/following 1s a specification.

invention relates to improvements in iusesand niore particularly to that class of current protective devices known as cartridge or ,yefillable fuses.

' T Among the objects of my invention are:

cati'ng whetherthe fusi le element has been V thefthelcap the clar'npingbar or washer,

form a unit, the construction preferablypermittin 'relfici ve movement of the shell and the 'ot er parts longitudinally of the shell. 3 Toloo'sely connect the clamping elegment', as a; bar' washe'r or the like-tothe -shell so'astoberihit the clamping element;- m, move longitudinally of the shell whenin "use andso as to keep the shell and clam'ping element assembled, but readily' separable, 'whenzth'e cap is'remo'ved' 4;: To provides construction in whichfthe fusible element is maintained under a sui fi cient tension to cause 1t to separate oropen the circuit before the fusing" or nieltlng point of the fuse element is ;rea ch'ed"and' quicklyseparate at the point Where it blowswhen the. element has been weakened at "such point, thereby suringsensitive action wherethefuse isof the well-known '5.-;To .co!istruet the i 'a'r'ts jso various] .sortsof 'terminalattac Inents may be readilyattachedvatid detached without requiring} any reconstruction of thexelejinents to whic the attachments are; applied- 1 Other and further objects are a, provide astructure whichis' siniple and f'eflicient in operation, durable in construction, and

'whiehcanbe manufactured and sold git a relatively low cost, and 'whichcan be read- 11y refilled at will.

r ;whichwill be readily understood, as the intion.aud combination of parts hereinafter Specification 'of Letters Patent. Patented Application Med May 10, 1913. Serial No. 703316; i

Renn sylvania, have invented cer e 'shell, and the fusible element so as AT. these and-other ends, the nature off fully described, illustrated .in. the. aceom- 65 panying drawings, and more particularly pointed: out inthe appendedclaimsi In the accompanyingydrawings, in which "similar reference 1 characters indicate s1 i+ lar parts in ea :h of the views Q Figurel isa view partly in sectiong ian partly in eleva tion Showingone form. f t invention I w-f the parts are assembled. 6B Flg. 3 is a detail view illustrating oneway in which the {1 [Se element may be. positioned relative to-tho clamping bar prior to the placing of, the cap in osition/ g Fig. 4 is a eross-se'ctlonalxviewqf -one en i of the: fuse showing a modified-l form efm invention. Fig. 5 isa view .of similar chanacte to: (Fig. kshowing; another forinw-"of he 'nvensq;

tion." K Fig. 6 .is'also aview ofthe char'acte 0t Fig. ,4 showing a still 'furthermedificatiehr part?' in section showing-my impiqved tie i, fnina attachment applled to 'a :c'attridge use."

Fig.8 is a detail viewshowingithe iteiim nal attachment illustrated in 'Elgz' fi Fig. 9 is a odification of the attae .shown in Fig.8.

Fig. 10 is a detail view-of a terrnmal atlb' tachxnent which may be emploed "of that indieatedin Figz7,. andz n.

Fig. 11 is a View (if similar characte of showing a stillfulithelar moi'l ificatio H g e erring' mare partieu ar yrtoii 1 2" and 3, the shell is ind-icatewat preferably forned ofanysuitablei11'sulitt -f mg I'n-aterial. L6 indicates the clamping": elm-lment, in this i1 stance, in theetomnqo f a bflvgf the element having its-ends seatedmfiusta the end of the shell, the bawiends in 1! preferably .cut out on theinnen'si'de v shoulders. 17 which lie within the end 'ofi the [shell and servo-as stops tolimit th'eflbngitudinal inovem ant of the bar. 'Theclampingfi element l6 isp re'ferably in the-form of a bar but this is not arbitrary, since itr' mayibe im .the form of a washer, asindicatedatslfifiin M Fig. 5, thewas' er being eusa sy or maxing? .105 .one or more penforationsforvthe aw i the fuse element to the; dilemma thee clampingelement orewsashen l d Fig. 2 is air agrnentarj view showingehowi .Ej

Fig; T is afrievw partlyl' i n elevation and I j good con 1s design te; ta""'a iii-efe'iabi ibf a closing the ends of the clamping bar 16.

The cap may be of any desired form as terminal structure, and in the form shown in.

Figs. 4*and 6,the" cap is shown as provided with a plurality of openings 18 throughwhich are adaptedto pass screws l9. which thread into the clamping element 16,:this arrangement serving 'to provide relative movement between the cap element-so asto practice 1y unite these into a unitary structure-the fuse element, indif cated at 20, extending between the opposing facesof the cap and clamping bar, 'the action of the screws causing'the fuse element to be positively clampedbetween the bar and cap and held in such clamped relation regardless of any tendency of a relative movement between the cap and the shell, such as'ma 'be provided by expansion or contraction o the ings-being spaced from the end of the shell 7 and located preferably at diametrically oposite points, the openings being of a length ongitudinally of the shell to provide the functions presentl referred to.

"Various ways 0 forming the eIemeIitco operating with the openings 15 are shown in thedrawings. For instance, in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 7 I have shown this elementfas in the forin of a bar'21,-said ba being connected a; the innerside of the. clamping bar-16 b a screw 22; inthe form shown in Fig. 4,1

have shown this element: asin the form ofprongs'23 formed integral with theclamp ing bar, each of these'forms showingthe connecting member as carried the clamp ingbaror element, In Fig; 6', I have shown this 'connecti'ng "bar'as in the form of a bolt 22, whichis carried by the skirt of the cap, Y said boltextending through the openings 15}.

In'Figs. '5 and 11,1 have shown the connecting element ascarried-by' the end ofthe shell, the clamping "bar or washer being threaded onto such connecting element. In each of these' forin's, the portion which enters into the openings 1 5 is ofless thick ness' than the length of such openingsQthe result being that "there permitteda movement of the connectingelement longitudinally of the shell within the. elements proucting material, such for nstance,

'.-.as:;copper, said cap having its skirt extending over the end of the shell and thus 1n and the clamping in Fig. 3, a

Mata" the opposite ends of the open- As a result, the unity is practically held from passin es of the end of the shell and yet is capab e of a movement longitudinally of the shell a distance equal to the play -provided-by the openings 15, thus permitting of the use of shell and caps free from connecting screw threads.

' As will be readily understood from the drawings, the fuse element which may be in strip or wire form,'is secured between the clamping element and the cap, and as both ends of-the fuse are assumed to be of similar construction it will be readily. understoodthat in securing the fuse element in position, the connection is made so as to practically retain the connecting members at the ends of the openings 15", the fuse element itself acting to retain the units at the opposite ends of the fuse in this" position, it bemg readily understood that any tendenc of. the end caps or units to move outward y during normal conditions is resisted by the fuse element.- To place the parts in po'sition, it is to be understood that the cap and clamping element are separated by the withdrawal of the screws 19, thus separating these two ele mentsL Ifthe clamping bar is'to beplaced in position, the operation shown" in Fig. 2 'is provided by passlng one end of the connecting in'ember'into one of the openings'15 with the clamping bar' in approximately the positionshown,- and "then "moving the clamping bar soiasto bring. the'other end of the connecting member "into the opposite slot, this operation being possible through the length of the openings or slots and the plate heretofore referred to. This enables" the clamping bar to be placed in position; The fuse element is th'en'pa'sSed about the clamping bar in such Fosition," as for'instance shown position and'the" screws 19 inserte to draw the clamping bar and cap into clamping relation'tothe fuse element. After one end of the"fuse'elementis'secured by this'clamping actioma similar operation is provided at the opposite end tungsten, the clamped end of the fuse element permitting sufiicient pulling er which the cap is (placed in strainito'bie placedonlth'e element-to carry it inproper posit-ion? around the clamping f barat the opposite end so as to insure the" connecting. bar'at that endbeing'at the inner end of the" slots or openings 15. The well known type of-fuse element is of sucha,

character as-will enable the bending action to. readily take pla'ceand the bends will be? sufficient to retain the parts in position until the caps. are secured'so as tocl'arn'p that end of the fuse elemen s" The fuse le y r m y placed nder tension, as desired. I Fi 5 the structureis such that the fuse element is i not placed under tension; this may or may notflbe true ofthe structure. of F igzf" 4,. de-

endin upon WhethEI' OI'f not tl'ie-"cla'mping ,ar'l is ormed of a resilient or non-resilient metal. In the form shown in .Fig. 1,the .5 connectin member 21. is. somewhat resilient, so that w en the fuse is filled .and the end caps in position, the fuse is held under the tension. provided by this connecting member, contacting with the inner ends of the slots under tension. a. 1 v M The advantagejof placing the fuse ele:

ment under tensionfas for instance, indicated in Fig. 1,, lies in the fact that when the fuse element blows, the separation will. take placeflat the earliestpossibl'e moment and will open the circuit before the melting point of the fuse elementflis reached, the, weakening of the element at. the point where it blowsperr'nittiiigf the tension exerted by the connecting member to; become 'eflective to quickly separate the parts of the fuse ele;

mentjand not necessitating awaiting the actual melting or fusing of-the element-at this'p'oint], this beingoneof the disadvam tagesresulting from the use'of this type of fuse relementyln prior constructions. As .a

causes either one or both. of the units at the ends ofthe shell to be moved outwardly Withinthe limits of the play provided the openings 15, this movement obviously provi ingrapid separation of, the remainmg ends of the fuse elementjwithout, perm'ltting the caps or units to actually leave the shell, the connectingmembers acting to hold the units from passing out of position.

Obviously, Withythe. normal positions of thew end *capsvwill readily-demonstrate the factthat tliefuse lement has blown and thus provide; aflise which will indicate this fact;

wherewa' number of fuses are'hpositioned on the switchboardin alinement, the: change examinatidnby a comparison-with the positlon of the endcaps, ofadjacent fuses. To enable.individualinspection, the shell may be provided with -a. suitable indicating mark 1ndicatedat25'in Fig. 1, .Whiehwould shgw the normal position of the cap either bybeing in approximatealinement with the end of the capor by being inclosed'by the skirt oi the cap; in the, former case, the blowing of; thetfuse would cause the cap ,to move longitudinally. of the shell and thus have its Inner; end spaced from such indicating .mark, While in the case of'the mark being normally inclosed or covered by the skirt, thew-blowing would causelthe skirt to pass fact that the fuse he s blown: w"

2' the connecting meml er is preferably fonned 'or openings; obviously this connecting memj i 7 bar may; not be made ofresilient material, injito provide a; crossing of the inner end porwhich case, the fuse element'is not placed the ends of the member-s and ".tlius "prev t 1 result, the element of safety and"certainty of operation isflprovided toa greaterv degree; h

Ineither' form, .the blowing of the fuse v and the eztpansion provided within the shell disengagement. w

1 excepting that it is the caps known, such outward movement of.

ducting metal havinfi it's" ends benttdown so in position will be readily perceivedwithout 1 ends of the terminall arei iadapt ii ,to lie .between the bladesx8l toaqpointa wherethe wouldi b'e exposed and:thus providei visual: indicatlonqof the 0 1 The connecting member show .in

min the form of a '1 od -ulilt'e element bentito no provide parts which wi ll "enter the slotsor openings 15. I a" l 4'} The form shownin Fig. 11 difi'eltsfin that inserted in position, and the" threadinglpof the cap into position acts: to press the dew bled portions toward each' ther, thisiaction causing the ends towoe moved outwa-ndlywso I as to be positioned ithinnthe slots on open ings and thus provde the connectionbetween the shell andhhetunit formed by the H eap ,clarnp ingmemberyeit -beingnureadil'yi b understood that while. movements w of the .unit longitudinally 1 )f the l she'll ma take place, the cap acts .to ='prev.ent. retraction;

I, As will be readily understood 11 un ts can be taken off or placedasin :pdsitionpthus -enabling the fuse to be readilyrefilledwi thv i In connection with ime drawings, hiivli m shown various types of terminals whichimay beemployedrin connection with the present inventioni] In Fig. Ii,zfor sinstancei have shown thec ap as pro ided-wisinglelknife terminals 26. 66

Fig. 4 is not essen ially different fmmsi "rovid'edsw'ith e-U shaped terminal-27ullaving itsficent iah pom tionsecured [against thew-outen faeen of the cap bythe screws 19* which" pel'jformftlfe iifo double function of cl: Lmpi-ng; the fusible i ele- .ment 20, and securing the terminal 27 to t'he as to. he parallelwit the eap 'orzl'she nals 29 v InFig. 7, I ,haveshot'v th fuse vided wlth U -shaped terminals 28 conne 1 15i thereto, these being m )re particula rly l in Fig. 8, consisting afa pieceofsheet 7 having a, centrally projecting}ymernb'erflfl f v bent up "at right anglosathereto and' l-two end": i a portions 28 bentlup at a right anglel-to the 2 5 central portion, tll l I I panying claims.

c ntact with the shell, and means projecting the cap and the clamping-member to clamp the fusible'element,

The terminal 29 shown in Fig. 9 hasits central member 29? provided with two holes forthe screws 19 so that it may be substi- ,tuted for the terminal 27 in Fig. 4.

In Fig. 10,"I show a difl'erenttype of terminal shown in Fig. 8.

As will be seen,the general structure of thefuse shown herein is adapted to cooper;

ate-with many different typesofterminals 7 without changing present equipment, a positive advantage in fuse construction.

Obviously,'the fuse may be provided with the usual asbestos filling orinsulatingrpowder or equivalents thereof, this not being shown as 1t is a common expedient,

While I have herein shown and various ways in which my invention can be carried into effect, it will be readil understood that -variations and" mod fications therein maybe required or desired to meet the exigencies of use, and I desire'to be understood as reserving the right to make any and all such changes and modifications as j may be re uired or desired in so far as the same may all within the spirit and'scope of the invention as expressed in the accom- 1. In a fuse, a shell, havin openings therein, 'a cap on the end of t e shell, a

clamping member within the cap, a fusible described j Lnally of the she be the'sci'ew which also passes through i 5. In a. fuse, a shell, a fuse element, a fuseelement clam'pm unit movable longitudiwith the shellfor placing the clamped fuse element under tension while protecting a circuit, said tension means aiding in disruptlatter is protecting acircuit, said means aiding in disrupting the element when the sa ety limit is reached.

nally of the she l, and means cooperating ing the element when the safety limits are preached; I i terminal which may be usedin place of'the I element clamping, unit movable longitudi nally of the shell, and means-cooperating :with the shell for placin pressure opposed to the ,eementpwhen the the unit under '1 In afuse, a shell a fuse element, a fuse I element clamping unit movable longitudip and means cooperating with the shell for placing the unit under pressure opposed tothe element when the latter is protecting a; circuit, said means aiding in disrupting the element when the 7 safety limit is reached, and also acting "to l limit such longitudinal movement, of the unit."

8. In a fuse, a shell having closed slots, a unit composed of acap on the shell, a clamping member in: the cap, a fusible element between" the cap end member vice'fo'r' drawing the cap and clamping. em; ber one toward theother, and meansprojecta threaded de-Y ing from the threaded device and into the i 9. In afuse, a shell having holes spaced "slotsfor'eonnecting the said unit to the shell.

a n from theend of the shell, a cap thereon, a

clamping member therein, a fusible element element clamped between the capand the clamping member, and means cooperating: with the said openingsfor permitting the; .40

cap to have a limited movement longitudi nally of the shell.

2. In a fuse, a shell, a unit com osed of cap on the shell, a clamping mem er in the cap,.and a fusible element clamped between the cap and said member independently of om the unit for emitting a limited movement of the unit ongitudinally of the shell.

3. In a fuse, a shell element in position ment within the shell, said means being mo'vable longitudinally of the shell as'ca unit,

and means cooperating with the shell for limiting the length of movement of the unit, the fuse element actingto normally restrain themovement of the unit in clamping posi tion, said unit movement being permitted by the blowing of the fuse element.

a, .fusible element, means for clamping said clamped between thecap and member, and means pro'ecting from said member and into -the holes or connecting said member to the shell, said means being insertible internally' of the shell concurrently-with the position- I ing ofthe member.

10. In a fuse, a shell havingjholes, a 'ea fg thereon, a clamping member therein, a fusible element clamped betweenf the'cap and I member, and means projecting from said. ;-member and into the holes forjpermitting the member andeap to move longitudinally r I I of the shell within predetermined limits, within the shell; and means cooperating between the cap and member, a contact terminal, and threaded means for. connecting the terminal to the cap and for clamping the 'fusible element between the cap and said member. A

12.In,a fuse, a shell, a cap thereon, a

' clampingmember therein, a fusible element between the cap' and member, a contact terminal, and clamping screws extendin through the terminal and cap and into sai member. I

13. In a fuse, a shell, a cap thereon, an indicationon the shell to identify the normal position of the cap, and means cooperating with the shell for connecting the cap to the shell to permit a limited outward movement of the cap on the shell.

14. In a fuse, a shell, means for clamping a fuse element within the shell in normal line-protecting position, and means cooperating with the shell for permitting restricted movements to said clamping means longitudinally of the shell when the limit of safetyis reached.

15. In a fuse, a shell, means for clamping a fuse element Within the shell in normal line-protecting position, and means coiiper ating with the shell for permitting restricted movements to said clamping means longitudinally of the shell when the limit of safety is reached, said movements being in the direction of increasing the normal length of the fuse.

16. In a fuse, a shell having'opposed holes spaced from an end thereof, and afusibleelement clamping member carrying means adapted to extend into said holes for supportin said clamping member against withdrawafi said means being insertible internally of the shell concurrentlywith the positioning of the member.

17, In a refillable fuse, a shell having opposed holes spaced from the end thereof, an end cap, anda member adapted to cooperate with said cap to clamp a fusible'element, said member carrying means insertible into a plurality of said holes solely from the interior of the shell during the member positioning movements, said means supporting the member against withdrawal.

18. In a refillable fuse, a shell having opposed holes spaced from the end thereof, an end cap, and a member'adapted to cooperate with said cap to clamp a fusible element, said member carrying means including'laterally-extending portions adapted to enter a.

plurality of said holessolely from the interior-of the shell during the member positioning movements, said means supporting the member against withdrawal. 1

19. In a refillable fuse, a shell having opposed holes spaced from an end thereof, a member external of the shell adapted to overlap said holes, a member adapted to cooperatewith said external member in clamping a fusible elementin position, said member carr 'n means insertible within a plurality 0 said holes solely from the interior of the shell during its member-positioning movements, said external member in its holeoverlapping position serving to prevent movement of the means within the holes suflicient to ermit withdrawal of the' means. 20. In a use, a shell, a cap on the end of the shell, a clamping member within the cap,

, a fusible element clamped between the clamping member and the end of the cap, and means cooperating with the shell for permitting the ca to have a limited movement longitudinal y of the shell.

21. In a fuse, a shell having openings, :1

cap thereon, a clamping member therein, a i fusible element clamped between the cap and member, and means within the shell projectthe terminal, cap and member into a unitary structure.

23. In a fuse, a shell, a cap thereon, an

indication on the shell to identify the nor-' mal position of the tap, and means for loosely connectin the; cap to the shell to permit a free limited outward movement of the cap on the shell.

having openings, a (rap on the shell, a clamping member in the shell, afusible element between the capl and member, means for forcing the cap and the clamping member one toward the other, and unit-retaining means within the shelliand projecting from the unit and into the openings.

i 25. In a fuse, a unit comprising a shell having openings,a ca on the shell, a clamping member in the .11, a fusible element between the cap and .member, means for a fusible element clamped between the clamping member andlthe end of the cap, and means for. permitting the cap to have a limited movement longitudinally of the shell.

24. In a fuse, a unit comprising a. shell forcing the cap and the clamping member 27. In a fuse, a shell .a unit composed of a cap on the shell, a clainpin member in the cap, and a fusible element camped between the cap and the said member independently of contact with the shell, and means for permitting the unit to have a limited movement longitudinally of the shell.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in preseence of two witnesses.

ALBERT F. DAUM.

Witnesses:

Gno. H. PRAGER, F. W. WAILAGE.

. come: of this patent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressing the cimml nionet ot latonte g i a wumm am" w i 

